There is not much I can say about Iron Maiden that hasn’t been said before.As a band, they always made sure to give (sell) you a product that is worth your hard earned dollars.Maiden England ’88 is no different.This is a DVD release of the old Maiden England video that came out 1989.Steve Harris is not content to just regurgitate the old video and put it out on this newer format.Instead, Harris goes back to the original footage and puts out the complete concert.Previously, the video omitted the three song encore and if you’re a fan, you want the whole show.For those of you who have not seen the original VHS version, what you get here is a show from the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son tour.The set list consists of all but two songs from that record, but they mix in a dozen older classics.Oddly, they did not play anything from the successful Powerslave album or the often overlooked Killers.The video is a little different to the Live after Death video.Where that release had more sweeping views of the crowd and the whole arena, this one is more of a “fan’s-eye” view of the concert.It is shot as if you were in the first few rows watching the show.The best things about this new re-release are that you get the whole show, and on a newer (and better) format.

The bonus disc includes “Part 3” of the Iron Maiden story.This part covers the Somewhere in Time through Seventh Son of a Seventh Son albums and tours.There is some great footage from the Somewhere in Time tour and you get a little insight from the band and management on what was going on during that time.Also included is the 12 Wasted Years video that was also only available on VHS.Now we finally get to put away our old battered version of that video and get to watch a nice clean copy.Added to the end are five videos that were released off the Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son albums.If you are a fan and have the Visions of the Beast DVD, then these are just repeats of what you already have.Even if you have the old video tapes of this show, I would still recommend getting it for the additional songs from the concert and the extras.Up the irons!

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.